Business Owner Puts Curse On Red Sox

Pitchers drinking fried chicken and beer in the clubhouse isn't the only issue new manager Bobby Valentine will have to deal with this season, the Red Sox must also overcome the "Curse of Toot's Dollar Store."

Let me explain.

Since moving spring training to Fort Myers, Fla., 19 years ago, the Boston Red Sox had played Grapefruit League games at City of Palms Park, not far from the city's historic downtown district. This year the club moved 13 miles down the road into the stunning $77 million JetBlue Park.

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Doesn't seem like that big of a deal, unless you happen to be one of the small business owners who believe they'll lose millions. Spring training fans reportedly throw away $12 million each season.

This is where Skip Mufalli enters. The owner of Toot's Dollar Store told WZVN-TV that the change of address will be a kiss of death for Boston's World Series dreams for years to come.

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"I feel they abandoned us. I feel their curse will be reenacted on them for taking the sweet little town that made them come to a championship," Mufalli said. In other words, the curse is back on the Red Sox! Mufalli added, "They snubbed us, and now they'll be snubbed."

It's not all bad news for the mom and pop shops in Fort Myers, the Washington Nationals are in talks to replace the Red Sox at Lee County's City of Palm's Park, and with a system full of young players with tons of potential (Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon), the area could have a team that's just as good or better for the next decade.